Windows 7: The First Blue Screen

Posted by: Stephen Wildstrom on October 26, 2009

My main Windows 7 system, which has been rock solid since I installed the shipping version of the operating system in early August, presented me with my first Blue Screen of Death this morning. The system had been acting a bit cranky for an hour or so when it suddenly crashed. The BSOD message identified the offending component as BHDrvx86.sys and a quick bit of Web research showed that to be a device driver that is part of Norton Internet Security 2009. After a reboot, everything seems to be OK, but if I get another crash with the same culprit, it will be adios Norton.

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Reader Comments

CGiboi

October 26, 2009 11:56 AM

I had my first 7 BSOD a week ago also from a software component. Unfortunately I had to reinstall the OS.

stephen

October 26, 2009 12:18 PM

Norton who?? Being a life long Mac user, the only Norton I ever heard of was Jackie Gleason's neighbour on the Honeymooners.

stephen

October 26, 2009 12:18 PM

Norton who?? Being a life long Mac user, the only Norton I ever heard of was Jackie Gleason's neighbour on the Honeymooners.

Andy Johns

October 26, 2009 12:33 PM

Do you find it necessary to use Norton on any recent machine? If you're not downloading Russian Bondage Porn, there is a slight chance that catch an infection.

October 26, 2009 12:58 PM

marcus

October 26, 2009 01:12 PM

Jeff C

October 26, 2009 01:33 PM

Why not use the free and fully compatible Microsoft Security Essentials?

http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Jeff C

October 26, 2009 01:34 PM

@Stephen: Did using a Mac make you a smug troll, or were you always that way making you a fit for the Macintosh persona?

Steve Wildstrom

October 26, 2009 01:47 PM

@Jeff C, Marcus--I'm in the business of testing products, so I run a lot of different AV products on different systems. This one happened to be running NIS.

@Andy Johns--Would it it were so simple. Lots of nasty infections occur because people visit perfectly respectable Web sites that have been compromised. It would be nice to only visit sites that are competently and securely run, but how can you know? Running AV software is no guarantee of protection, but it helps.(/p>

Gadeyne

October 26, 2009 01:50 PM

There was a recent article published in PC World mentioning that third party security applications would most likely not work in Windows 7

Carlo Mendoza

October 26, 2009 01:55 PM

Bryan

October 26, 2009 01:59 PM

Norton Internet Security has been causing blue screens since Windows 98... Don't waste your time with it. There's a reason why you so frequently see it at Frys for $0.

Nonplussed

October 26, 2009 01:59 PM

Show a picture OR IT NEVER HAPPENED

Steve Wildstrom

October 26, 2009 02:09 PM

@Nonplussed--This system had the default setting to reboot automatically after a crash, so I barely had time to read the STOP code and had no chance to capture a screen image. But I assure you it did happen.

AmblestonDack

October 26, 2009 02:59 PM

AVG?! are you mad! AVG is the bane of my professional IT career. I have lost count the times I have had to go at a PC with a wire brush and a bottle of bleach just because the user downloaded AVG.

If you need to buy AV software go for NOD32 or if you are a "Cardi" and want to be cheap, download ClamAV for Windows, but not the free AVG.

J. Tirren

October 26, 2009 03:11 PM

Norton is the worst - has always caused my systems to be sluggish and/or to crash.
... and I've had Macs that have gotten viruses so you'll be running an antivirus on a Mac as well -- just don't use Norton.

Squeezebox

October 26, 2009 03:16 PM

Apple is only immune because it is so UNPOPULAR. Your I-phone will catch a bug shortly. I never use security from Microsoft because whatever MS puts out, that's what the hackers defeat. I always buy from a third party, usually AVG.

ldskjf

October 26, 2009 03:27 PM

Poor windows sheep... Enjoy.

AD

October 26, 2009 03:49 PM

Of all the well know anti-virus program, Norton is the worst. I have experienced this since my Win98. I continue experience more of the same problem when I tried to give it a second chance with the new comps and OSes. When I got my Vista, I removed the program when I first seen it, and never got a problem since. Ever since I swear never use Norton again in my life. Among other antivirus softwares, McAfee is probably the best, but I got it free through school and work.

Rich Desmond

October 26, 2009 04:21 PM

Norton is crude in how it works with the protected core and also not very good. AVG has had no 7 problems in the free and network versions to date with our clients

Canuck

October 26, 2009 04:54 PM

The last time I had Norton was around 1999 when it slowed my PC by at least 40%. Uninstalled it and ran naked until this year when I got stung. Installed Mcafee. This also seems to be a pig on resources. Not sure whether I will keep it on the machine.

Bob B.

October 26, 2009 05:07 PM

I've been running Windows 7 for about two months. I regularly get a BSOD due to tcpip.sys. At first I thought it was due to IPv6. Disabled it but the issue continues... At this point I believe my hardware is just not compatible. :(

Gadeyne

October 26, 2009 05:18 PM

There was a recent article published in PC World mentioning that third party security applications would most likely not work in Windows 7

JohnB

October 26, 2009 07:21 PM

Excuse me, what was the URL for that Russian Bondage Porn?

I <3 Penguins

October 26, 2009 08:08 PM

What's a virus?

JMorris

October 26, 2009 08:27 PM

I agree with Mike and the rest of you. As a software designer, I have to say Norton is annoying, heavy on the computer, and most of the time when you try to uninstall it crashes your computer. I guess they have a deal with Windows to have it preinstalled on all new machines. I have used every antivirus program out there and have found BitDefender to be the best. It's light on the machine and works on the background so it doesnt interrupt your work. And it's almost half the price of Norton.
And I disagree with Andy Jones. You need a reliable anti-virus program even for every day web surfing. Just opening an email from a co-worker with an infected computer can get you a nice virus. Not to mention all the spyware that woks on the background undetected, stealing personal information from your computer.

DavidG

October 26, 2009 08:41 PM

Damn it, I am getting infected several times a day with different viruses on Windows 7. Only now I realize it must have been the Russian Bondage porn. What other porn do you recommend that is more compatible with Win7?

BC

October 26, 2009 10:01 PM

RT SqueezeBox: Apple, unpopular?? LOL! That's a good one. If you compare the financial statements of both companies you will see that you are wrong. Apple has a stronger consumer base than Microsoft. Microsoft has quickly, over the years, lost their momentum. They have holes in many of their products (including a lack of products too). Their products are too flawed. I have used both products over the past 10 years and I have owned 4 PC's/Windows machines and 1 Mac. They just work. Security Essentials?? Disk Defrag?? Please... if you build it right they are not needed.

Riddhish Ruparelia

October 26, 2009 10:13 PM

Please say bye bye to Norton and McAfee, Microsoft Security Essential works really great with vista and windows 7. Unless you like the blue screen and slow resource hungry PC use Norton.

Jack Corbett

October 26, 2009 11:05 PM

I have been running windows 7 since the RC and have run NOD32, Vipre, and Security Essentials (at different times) without any issues. I'd stay away from Norton and McAfee at all costs. You couldn't pay me to run either of those pigs on my personal PC. I am forced to run McAfee at work and hate it. If I were buying an AV product I'd get NOD32.

pamela

October 26, 2009 11:09 PM

I don't really get it. Havin read all these comments, I still don't know which antivirus protection to use. Currently have the trial version of AVG 9 on my pc.
Used Nod, Mcafee, and also have spybot search and destroy.
Which is, acording to others, not good.

Confused; oh, ever heard from AVAST???

John D.

October 27, 2009 12:20 AM

Why doesn't some Russian entrepreneur come up with a product that combines virus protection and porn? It would be a niche, but for that niche market it would let them have their cake and eat it too.

dsr

October 27, 2009 01:44 AM

i had avg, and i had to format my hd due to a malware. since then I have switched to norton on my vista and then upgraded to win 7 and then upgraded to latest norton internet security 2010. its been working like a charm

Forthac

October 27, 2009 06:44 AM

Haven't had a virus for a LONG time. I run my browser (and any unknown software) in sandboxie to prevent infection with virtually no impact to system resources.

http://www.sandboxie.com

bitstreamer

October 27, 2009 09:02 AM

You don't need an av if you know what to do and what not to do in a pc.

BigVig209

October 27, 2009 12:00 PM

beedi

October 27, 2009 12:57 PM

nod32 from eset is definitely the best antivirus in the market. unbelieveably quick, next-to-zero bootup and run times.

makes me think that it doesn't work at all... until i see a virus capture and disinfected screen.

Jake

October 27, 2009 02:29 PM

That sandboxie looks very useful, but it doesnt support 64 bit systems ;(

David

October 27, 2009 03:12 PM

Don't use anything BUT NIS 2009! Go back to VISTA or XP before you throw out Norton (as long as it's 2009 or later). The experts have already written plenty enough on the subject, so just do your homework!

Brian M

October 28, 2009 12:40 AM

Anyone care to comment on Avira free? Mostly great things from me, including Win 7.

Momo

October 28, 2009 02:31 AM

The Tech Beat.. my ass. Clearly this guy doesn't have a versin of NIS that even officially supports Win7. Get NIS2010.

Also to the people who complain about performance of Norton products, they are just showing their age... and ignorance, but clearly they wont say such things if they had installed NIS2009 or NIS2010.

Johnny

November 16, 2009 07:57 AM

I have do not have any "Norton" products on my P.C., and I have already have the BSOD twice, plus it has crashed doing simple things, like formatting a floppy disk.

Typical MS garbage.

Scott

November 18, 2009 09:11 PM

Just get it over with and buy a Mac. *nix based systems are inherently soooo much more reliable and you will agree that its the best decision you ever made once you have done it. The only downside is if you like to play games, stick with the BSOD.

peace monger

November 20, 2009 04:42 AM

Windows is a steaming pile of legacy code. Ditch it and you'll never be happier.

Paul

November 20, 2009 06:09 PM

Guys i'm sorry to say after 2 months with no problem in the new Windows 7 .. i was feeling pretty good about it and i even recomended to many of my customers since i'm a computer technician . As of today 11/20/2009 i just had my first BSOD on Win 7 Ultimate x64 bit ... did not have time for print screen but it happend .For now any other comment has no meaning ...

Files that help describe the problem:
C:\Windows\Minidump\112709-23228-01.dmp
C:\Windows\Temp\WER-31465-0.sysdata.xml

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